The Kremlin confirmed that U.S. CIA Director John Ratcliffe engaged with Russian intelligence officials in Moscow, although he did not hold a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. President Donald Trump characterized the visit as “semi-routine.”

During a press briefing, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed that Putin had been apprised of the discussions from the visit on Tuesday. The visit occurred amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the stalemate in U.S.-Iran peace negotiations.

Peskov refrained from disclosing the specifics of the talks or providing further insights. He stated, “I can confirm that communications took place through security channels. There were no direct meetings with the Russian president. President Putin remains promptly informed of all developments.”

Although Trump did not specify the purpose of Ratcliffe’s trip in a radio interview, he expressed optimism about its potential outcomes. He mentioned, “There might be positive outcomes. We are diligently working towards ending the conflict,” referring to the situation in Ukraine.

Ratcliffe’s visit marks the first known interaction between a U.S. CIA director and Russian officials since his predecessor William Burns met with Putin in November 2021, just prior to the commencement of the full-scale conflict in Ukraine.

When asked about the potential impact of high-level visits on U.S.-Russia relations, Peskov emphasized the constructive nature of intelligence agency exchanges between the two countries. He highlighted that such dialogues often persist even during challenging diplomatic phases, indicating a positive trajectory for bilateral ties.